RS4 versus 997GT3 (not as straightforward as you think)
Discussion
Having just sold my CSL (and previously a 997 2S) I found myself without a 'special' car until my 997 GT3 arrives next March. It's only 6 months I told myself. I lasted 2 weeks before I went out and bought a 3 month old RS4. My 'special' cars have always been in addition to an everyday car, for the first time I have a 'special' car which I'm using whenever I want. And I'm loving it! The RS4 is absolutely awesome on everyday Scottish roads (no matter the weather), I can also leave it wherever I want (something I found myself not doing in the 997) because 99% of people think it's just another Audi.
Now here's my dilemma. I think I'm having more fun with the RS4 than I will with the GT3 because I won't drive it as much, and I also think in most road circumstances the RS4 will be quicker.
Brain says stick with RS4, save £30k, drive the arse of it and enjoy driving everyday. My heart says don't be so stupid and get the f%%^ing GT3!
Anybody else ever have the same dilemma?
(to be fair, it is a nice dilemma!)
Now here's my dilemma. I think I'm having more fun with the RS4 than I will with the GT3 because I won't drive it as much, and I also think in most road circumstances the RS4 will be quicker.
Brain says stick with RS4, save £30k, drive the arse of it and enjoy driving everyday. My heart says don't be so stupid and get the f%%^ing GT3!
Anybody else ever have the same dilemma?
(to be fair, it is a nice dilemma!)
You will miss having a special car for those 'special' occasions. The RS4 though special, by your own admission looks quite normal and is very usable, the GT3 will provide a very different kind of experience. Once you've had your RS4 for a few months report back and let us know how you feel. I suspect that once you're into January you will start looking forward to getting your GT3, but I may be wrong...
DMC2 said:
Anybody else ever have the same dilemma?
similar in that I am thinking
a) keep Polo for wife and get 911 to keep me sane; concern is now how much will I get to use the 911 if we can;t get baby + assorted gubbins in
b) just get M3/RS4 and advantage is only have one car (one insurance / one permit / one tax etc); concern is will I still be frustrated every time I see a 911
how does the RS4 compare v CSL?
[quote=DMC2]Having just sold my CSL (and previously a 997 2S) I found myself without a 'special' car until my 997 GT3 arrives next March. It's only 6 months I told myself. I lasted 2 weeks before I went out and bought a 3 month old RS4. My 'special' cars have always been in addition to an everyday car, for the first time I have a 'special' car which I'm using whenever I want. And I'm loving it! The RS4 is absolutely awesome on everyday Scottish roads (no matter the weather), I can also leave it wherever I want (something I found myself not doing in the 997) because 99% of people think it's just another Audi.
Now here's my dilemma. I think I'm having more fun with the RS4 than I will with the GT3 because I won't drive it as much, and I also think in most road circumstances the RS4 will be quicker.
Brain says stick with RS4, save £30k, drive the arse of it and enjoy driving everyday. My heart says don't be so stupid and get the f%%^ing GT3!
chalk / cheese (love the rs4 by the way but my god a gt3's a gt3 
)
Now here's my dilemma. I think I'm having more fun with the RS4 than I will with the GT3 because I won't drive it as much, and I also think in most road circumstances the RS4 will be quicker.
Brain says stick with RS4, save £30k, drive the arse of it and enjoy driving everyday. My heart says don't be so stupid and get the f%%^ing GT3!
chalk / cheese (love the rs4 by the way but my god a gt3's a gt3 ) The CSL is an absolutely amazing car. It's difficult to compare it with the RS4, a normal M3 would be more appropriate. On the right road the CSL was stupid quick, but on the wrong road (and let's face it most roads are in a pretty bad way) the Audi would be quicker. On track is a different story, but I'm talking about everyday fast road cars. The RS4 is compliant on all road surfaces, and the road holding with the 4 wheel drive is breathtaking.
I still miss the noise of the CSL though!
I still miss the noise of the CSL though!
I think my point is that even if I have both (and it may be a consideration if I can talk my wife into it!) I worry that the GT3 would never get used now that I've found having a 'special' everyday car so much fun! I know I wouldn't do as many miles in the GT3 as I am in the RS4 because I'll love it, clean it and stick in back in the garage!
DMC2 said:
The CSL is an absolutely amazing car. It's difficult to compare it with the RS4, a normal M3 would be more appropriate. On the right road the CSL was stupid quick, but on the wrong road (and let's face it most roads are in a pretty bad way) the Audi would be quicker. On track is a different story, but I'm talking about everyday fast road cars. The RS4 is compliant on all road surfaces, and the road holding with the 4 wheel drive is breathtaking.
I still miss the noise of the CSL though!
I still miss the noise of the CSL though!
Buy a Milltek!! They sound great on RS4
As luck would have it, I was karting today, and went with a buddy in his new RS4 (6,000 kms, so reasonably well run in). He let me drive it home, and we took the long way back via 70 kms of German country roads, with a quick scamper up to 250 kmh on the home stretch of autobahn - he had it wound up to 280 kmh+ on the way out. TBH, though there was a lot I loved about the car, I was a tiny bit underwhelmed. It didn't feel that quick or exciting to me. Nice noise, and a lovely place to sit. The car felt secure, the ride was good, the brakes were excellent. The gearchange was a bit rubbery, the steering wasn't exactly chatty, and the clutch had a ridiculously long travel and late bite making smooth changes a bit tricky. I'd still prefer a manual E46 M3.
All in all - a top notch car, but not a patch on a GT3 in terms of noise, go or feel - at least subjectively. It also drank juice at a rate likely to make an Airbus A380 look parsimonious. If I were you - enjoy your RS4. By the time you're done with it, 997 GT3s should be available second-hand.
All in all - a top notch car, but not a patch on a GT3 in terms of noise, go or feel - at least subjectively. It also drank juice at a rate likely to make an Airbus A380 look parsimonious. If I were you - enjoy your RS4. By the time you're done with it, 997 GT3s should be available second-hand.
Dave 321 said:
DMC2 said:
The CSL is an absolutely amazing car. It's difficult to compare it with the RS4, a normal M3 would be more appropriate. On the right road the CSL was stupid quick, but on the wrong road (and let's face it most roads are in a pretty bad way) the Audi would be quicker. On track is a different story, but I'm talking about everyday fast road cars. The RS4 is compliant on all road surfaces, and the road holding with the 4 wheel drive is breathtaking.
I still miss the noise of the CSL though!
I still miss the noise of the CSL though!
Buy a Milltek!! They sound great on RS4
dave u sound like fahy!
The RS4's are incredible cars - if you need a 4-door saloon, for my money, there is nothing finer.
And im considering one as a replacement to the 911...
However, as you say, this is a special car, and the Audi isnt as special as a 911. ever.
I think come next summer, you'll want the Porsche - no matter how good the RS4 is, its still an audi..
And im considering one as a replacement to the 911...
However, as you say, this is a special car, and the Audi isnt as special as a 911. ever.
I think come next summer, you'll want the Porsche - no matter how good the RS4 is, its still an audi..
There's a lot to be said for having a car that covers all bases, my guess is however that over the coming months the novelty of the RS4 will wear off and it will become a "mundane everyday" car to you.
You will then crave a fix of "specialness" something that the RS4 (because you use it everyday) will not provide.
Enter stage left the GT3.....................
The Audi maybe quick, refined, and point to point (in some cases) be faster than the GT3, but it ain't exactly tactile to drive is it ?
I found everything about it to be a bit remote (from the admittedly brief) test drive I had a couple of months ago.
DON'T cancel the GT3 !!
You will then crave a fix of "specialness" something that the RS4 (because you use it everyday) will not provide.
Enter stage left the GT3.....................
The Audi maybe quick, refined, and point to point (in some cases) be faster than the GT3, but it ain't exactly tactile to drive is it ?
I found everything about it to be a bit remote (from the admittedly brief) test drive I had a couple of months ago.
DON'T cancel the GT3 !!
There's something about the noise and poise that a GT3 or a CSL has that the RS4 doesn't.
I would agree with most here in that the RS4 if fast and capable but then there are plenty of cars out there like that. The CSL or GT3 is a massive occassion that even my 996 Turbo simply can't match.
I've got my name on a GT3.....make no mistake...............Now should I be selling the CSL too??????
I would agree with most here in that the RS4 if fast and capable but then there are plenty of cars out there like that. The CSL or GT3 is a massive occassion that even my 996 Turbo simply can't match.
I've got my name on a GT3.....make no mistake...............Now should I be selling the CSL too??????
Adam B said:
DMC2 said:
Anybody else ever have the same dilemma?
similar in that I am thinking
a) keep Polo for wife and get 911 to keep me sane; concern is now how much will I get to use the 911 if we can;t get baby + assorted gubbins in
b) just get M3/RS4 and advantage is only have one car (one insurance / one permit / one tax etc); concern is will I still be frustrated every time I see a 911
how does the RS4 compare v CSL?
You and I are in exactly the same place...so to speak...I am hankering after a Porsche as a fun car and I have a Passat Estate as an everyday hack. The issue is if and when a little un comes along will the Porsche ever get used? Not sure if you can get a newborn in a 996/7?
paracetamol said:
You and I are in exactly the same place...so to speak...I am hankering after a Porsche as a fun car and I have a Passat Estate as an everyday hack. The issue is if and when a little un comes along will the Porsche ever get used? Not sure if you can get a newborn in a 996/7?
drove an RS4 -great 4 door saloon, fantastic looks and cabin and a leap on from previous RS cars but it won't feel like a Porsche coz it doesn't have the steering/suspension feel and it is not a 2 seat low coupe. To me it was like a 996TT blown out to a saloon but every sensation numbed by 30%
problem is RS4 is £55k with options less Polo sale = £50k
keep Polo and buy my spec/age 996TT - £55k
that's only £5k difference!!!
newborn - it seems to be tough, costs £1k odd for Porsche seat and prep/airbag off, even then the only option is baby in front PAX so not great for wifey
Have been running an RS4 and C2S for last few months. When a trip was equally suitable for either I often as not found myself in the Audi. I find the seats better and more comfortable that the Porsche sports seats which seem to have been downgraded over the years to accommodate a broader beam.
The V8 sounds better in normal road use and is superbly smooth and torquey. Driving on the crap surfaces that pass for British roads the RS4 also rides better and feels less fidgetty.
Whether it will fare as well against the turbo which arrives at the week end is another matter.
But come what may the RS4 is a good car and I will be keeping it even though it was originally only intended as a stop gap whilst waiting for the V8 M3.
The V8 sounds better in normal road use and is superbly smooth and torquey. Driving on the crap surfaces that pass for British roads the RS4 also rides better and feels less fidgetty.
Whether it will fare as well against the turbo which arrives at the week end is another matter.
But come what may the RS4 is a good car and I will be keeping it even though it was originally only intended as a stop gap whilst waiting for the V8 M3.
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